Abstract: A needle including a cannula having a multi-beveled point is disclosed. The multi-beveled point includes a primary bevel, two middle bevels, and two tip bevels. Each of the middle bevels extends between the primary bevel and one of the tip bevels. The primary bevel is provided on the cannula at a first angle of inclination and a first angle of rotation, the two middle bevels are provided on the cannula at a second angle of inclination and a second angle of rotation, and the two tip bevels are provided on the cannula at a third angle of inclination and a third angle of rotation. The third angle of inclination is greater than the second angle of inclination, the second angle of inclination is greater than the first angle of inclination, and the second angle of rotation is equal to the third angle of rotation.

Abstract: A specimen collection container assembly including a collection tube, an interior reservoir formed within the collection tube, a gel separation substance provided within the interior reservoir, and a rigid barrier member provided within the interior reservoir. Upon collection of a specimen within the interior reservoir and centrifugation of the collection tube, the specimen is divided into two primary component parts, and the gel separation substance and the rigid barrier member migrate or are otherwise moved to a transition location between the two primary component parts so as to form a physical barrier between a first component part of the specimen and a second component part of the specimen.

Abstract: A specimen collection container assembly including a collection tube and an interior reservoir formed within the collection tube. The interior reservoir includes an upper chamber, a lower chamber, and an elongated channel fluidly coupling the upper chamber and the lower chamber. A diameter of the elongated channel is smaller than both a diameter of the upper chamber and a diameter of the lower chamber. The assembly further includes a bead-type separator which is configured to plug an upper neck portion between the upper chamber and the elongated channel. The bead-type separator is insertable into the interior reservoir after a specimen sample is collected and the collection tube is subjected to centrifugation.

Abstract: A specimen collection container assembly including a collection tube having a first open end and a second open end, and an interior reservoir formed within the collection tube. The assembly further includes a cap configured to be couplable to the collection tube to close the first open end, as well as a plug configured to be couplable to the collection tube to close the second open end. The collection tube also includes a flat mouth portion extending 360° around the first open end.

Abstract: A needle including a cannula having a multi-beveled point is disclosed. The multi-beveled point includes a primary bevel, two middle bevels, and two tip bevels. Each of the middle bevels extends between the primary bevel and one of the tip bevels. The primary bevel is provided on the cannula at a first angle of inclination and a first angle of rotation, the two middle bevels are provided on the cannula at a second angle of inclination and a second angle of rotation, and the two tip bevels are provided on the cannula at a third angle of inclination and a third angle of rotation. The third angle of inclination is greater than the second angle of inclination, the second angle of inclination is greater than the first angle of inclination, and the second angle of rotation is equal to the third angle of rotation.

Abstract: A needle including a cannula having a multi-beveled point is disclosed. The multi-beveled point includes a primary bevel, two middle bevels, and two tip bevels. Each of the middle bevels extends between the primary bevel and one of the tip bevels. The primary bevel is provided on the cannula at a first angle of inclination and a first angle of rotation, the two middle bevels are provided on the cannula at a second angle of inclination and a second angle of rotation, and the two tip bevels are provided on the cannula at a third angle of inclination and a third angle of rotation. The third angle of inclination is greater than the second angle of inclination, the second angle of inclination is greater than the first angle of inclination, and the second angle of rotation is equal to the third angle of rotation.

Abstract: A separation assembly for separation of a fluid into first and second parts is disclosed. A container has a first end, a second end, and a sidewall extending therebetween defining an interior, the container defining a longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end. A separator body is disposed within the interior having a through-hole defined therethrough. The separator body includes a first part, and a second part interfaced with the first part, wherein the separator body is transitionable from a first position wherein the through-hole is provided in fluid-receiving alignment with the first end of the container, to a second position wherein the through-hole is provided substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container. In the first position, a through-axis of the through-hole of the separator body is in a plane that is not parallel with a plane containing the longitudinal axis of the container.

Abstract: A separation assembly for separation of a fluid into first and second parts is disclosed. A container has a first end, a second end, and a sidewall extending therebetween defining an interior, the container defining a longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end. A separator body is disposed within the interior having a through-hole defined therethrough. The separator body includes a first part, and a second part interfaced with the first part, wherein the separator body is transitionable from a first position wherein the through-hole is provided in fluid-receiving alignment with the first end of the container, to a second position wherein the through-hole is provided substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container. In the first position, a through-axis of the through-hole of the separator body is in a plane that is not parallel with a plane containing the longitudinal axis of the container.

Abstract: A needle including a cannula having a multi-beveled point is disclosed. The multi-beveled point includes a primary bevel, two middle bevels, and two tip bevels. Each of the middle bevels extends between the primary bevel and one of the tip bevels. The primary bevel is provided on the cannula at a first angle of inclination and a first angle of rotation, the two middle bevels are provided on the cannula at a second angle of inclination and a second angle of rotation, and the two tip bevels are provided on the cannula at a third angle of inclination and a third angle of rotation. The third angle of inclination is greater than the second angle of inclination, the second angle of inclination is greater than the first angle of inclination, and the second angle of rotation is equal to the third angle of rotation.

Abstract: A separation assembly for separation of a fluid into first and second parts is disclosed. A container has a first end, a second end, and a sidewall extending therebetween defining an interior, the container defining a longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end. A separator body is disposed within the interior having a through-hole defined therethrough. The separator body includes a first part, and a second part interfaced with the first part, wherein the separator body is transitionable from a first position wherein the through-hole is provided in fluid-receiving alignment with the first end of the container, to a second position wherein the through-hole is provided substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container. In the first position, a through-axis of the through-hole of the separator body is in a plane that is not parallel with a plane containing the longitudinal axis of the container.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of providing an optimal minimum mass topology for a structure based on a set of design criteria including at least one support point and at least one force to be applied to the structure. The method includes the steps of: identifying a plurality of nodes within a structure design domain, and assigning an initial density value to said plurality of nodes; conducting a finite element analysis on the nodes; determining one of a stress intensity or strain energy values for each node; ranking the nodes by relative stress intensity or strain energy values; adjusting the density value for each node; and repeating the steps of conducting a finite element analysis on said nodes, wherein the step of adjusting each density value for each node is performed according to a family of statistical distribution functions that gradually transition to a bimodal distribution wherein nodes are either fully dense or effectively void thereby providing an optimal topology.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of providing an optimal minimum mass topology for a structure based on a set of design criteria including at least one support point and at least one force to be applied to the structure. The method includes the steps of: identifying a plurality of nodes within a structure design domain, and assigning an initial density value to said plurality of nodes; conducting a finite element analysis on the nodes; determining one of a stress intensity or strain energy values for each node; ranking the nodes by relative stress intensity or strain energy values; adjusting the density value for each node; and repeating the steps of conducting a finite element analysis on said nodes, wherein the step of adjusting each density value for each node is performed according to a family of statistical distribution functions that gradually transition to a bimodal distribution wherein nodes are either fully dense or effectively void thereby providing an optimal topology.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for providing an optimal topology for a structure based on a set of design criteria including at least one support point and at least one force to be applied to the structure. The method includes the steps of identifying a plurality of nodes within a structure design domain, and assigning an initial density value to the plurality of nodes. The method also includes the steps of conducting a finite element analysis on the nodes, determining a stress intensity value for each node, ranking the nodes by relative stress intensity values, and adjusting the density value for each node. The method also includes the step of repeating the steps of conducting a finite element analysis on the nodes, determining the stress intensity value for each node, ranking the nodes by relative stress intensity values, and adjusting the density value for each node until a termination criteria is realized, thereby providing an optimal topology.